Custom Couple Portrait: Two familiar faces, seen a little differently

Pick a likeness they would enjoy displaying

The best starting point is a photograph both people like. A wedding portrait can mark the occasion, but an ordinary happy moment may feel more like them now. Match the style to their home: a detailed drawing, loose watercolor effect and playful caricature make different gifts.

Look closely at examples of faces, clothing and backgrounds. A painted appearance does not establish how the portrait was made. Sellers may offer hand-drawn originals, digital illustration, automated effects or printed reproductions. Buy the actual method and finish described, rather than assuming every portrait is an original painting.

Agree what happens to the photograph

A sharp, well-lit original gives the seller more to work with than a tiny screenshot. If the people come from separate pictures, ask whether combining them is included and how their scale and lighting will be handled. Use photographs you have permission to upload.

• Agree the people, crop, clothing and any background changes before work begins.

• Find out whether a proof is supplied and how many revisions the price includes.

• Review faces, names and dates at the intended print size, not only on a phone.

Make sure a finished gift will arrive

Confirm a physical print or canvas, its dimensions and whether a frame is supplied. A digital file can leave printing, framing and delivery still to arrange. Custom production takes time, and personalized returns may be restricted; read the exact seller's terms before approval.

If displaying faces would not suit the recipients, a custom house portrait can celebrate a meaningful home. A personalized photo book suits a collection of memories that they would rather keep on a shelf than on a wall.